Cherry Peanut Butter Balls - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened (no substitutes)
1 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups confectioners' sugar
24 -26 maraschino cherries, with stems
additional confectioners' sugar
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup shortening

Preparation

In a small mixing bowl, cream the butter, peanut butter and vanilla; mix well.
Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Pat cherries dry with paper towel.
Dust hands with additional confectioners' sugar.
Wrap each cherry with a rounded tablespoon full of peanut butter mixture; shape into a ball (Peanut butter mixture may need to be refrigerated occasionally while rolling cherries.).
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth.
Dip peanut butter balls in chocolate; place on waxed paper.
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until set.